There are many elements that go into creating the optimal lighting setup for a shot. The positioning of lights, the type of lights you use, and the quality of light you create. One of the best tools cinematographers have to adjust the quality of a light is bounce light. Bounce light is used from DIY short film sets to high budget Hollywood films. In this article, we’ll analyze why cinematographers may opt for bounce and diffused light and lay down a few tips you can use it in your next project.Continue reading How to Bounce Light — Photography & Film Techniques
Cinematographers obviously play a vital role in making a film, but what decisions do they make on a daily basis? The cinematographer's primary goal is to capture the director's vision. Using lighting, camera, and composition techniques, a DP translates that vision into images. This post goes over the common considerations with explanations from working professionals. Let’s jump in so we can answer that age-old question: what does a cinematographer do?Continue reading What Does a Cinematographer Do? DP Wally Pfister Explains
The Last of Us is one of HBO’s most recent blockbuster television shows. Looking at a history of video game adaptations, the cards were stacked against the series, but it avoided all the pitfalls of previous takes on video games to become a resounding success. The secrets to the show’s quality can be found in The Last of Us behind the scenes– each element of the show was carefully considered and expertly executed.Continue reading The Making of The Last of Us — Writing, Visuals & FX Explained
Virtual production is a fast-growing technique in the film and television industry. It offers filmmakers new ways to create engaging content with greater flexibility and efficiency. But what is virtual production? It combines traditional filmmaking methods such as motion capture and facial recognition with digital visuals. And this groundbreaking technology opens up exciting possibilities for directors and producers looking to produce something completely unique. This blog will explore how it works, and the benefits that it offers to those creating content in today's landscape.Continue reading What is Virtual Production — Pros, Cons & Process Explained
It's hard to frame characters on screen, while simultaneously showcasing the story’s intentions. Never fear, the two shot can solve this problem for you. Today we’re going to go over the two shot. We’ll show you how you can use it in your work to subtly get your story’s dramatic beats and comedic moments to pop. Continue reading The Two Shot: Examples of Camera Movements & Angles
Film Lighting: The Ultimate Guide (FREE Ebook)A foundational guide for photographers and cinematographers aspiring to master the art of cinematic lighting.We'll cover the attributes of light, the equipment involved and tips on shooting in various lighting scenarios. Types of Film Lighting ExplainedAchieving cinematic lighting starts with knowing "the rules"Great lighting is what separates the amateurs from the professionals. Cinematographers with firm grasp on how the combination of light and shadow can support visual storytelling all started with the fundamentals.This guide is a jumpstart towards that goal. By learning how light works and how to harness it, you can approach any lighting…
Low light cinematography can be daunting. If it goes wrong, an image can be hard to see or fraught with noise. Trying to overcorrect with stronger lights, on the other hand, can make a night scene feel unnaturally bright. How can a cinematographer navigate this minefield to achieve a beautiful low-light shot? In this post, we'll cover various techniques when shooting low light photography and cinematography. We'll start with our interview with famed DP Claudio Miranda discussing how to shoot in low light with scenes from Oblivion, Life of Pi, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.Continue reading Low Light…
Terminator 2: Judgement Day has a plethora of memorable scenes, from Sarah Connor’s hospital escape to the fiery climax at the steel mill. Perhaps one of the most stunning sequences, however, is Sarah Connor’s nuclear apocalypse nightmare. The dream was vividly realized by James Cameron and his team, and at the time was one of the most realistic depictions of a nuclear holocaust put to film. To pull it off, the filmmakers used groundbreaking techniques, some of which are still imitated today. Let's break down the Terminator 2 nuke scene in all its apocalyptic glory!Continue reading Terminator 2 Nuke Scene Breakdown…
Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of cinematography. There are literally infinite ways to light a scene, and each one has the potential to drastically change how people view the subject. When you want a dramatic effect that makes the subject’s face interesting, you want what’s known as Rembrandt lighting.A Rembrandt lighting setup is common in the field of photography. It’s a great way to draw a viewer’s attention to a precise area of the photograph. However, cinematographers have much they can learn from this technique. Let’s look at this technique and how it can help you attain…
Darius Khondji is everywhere. The esteemed cinematographer’s list of collaborators is as long as it is impressive; he’s worked with directors like Wong Kar-Wai, James Gray, David Fincher, the Safdie Brothers, Michael Haneke, Alejandro Iñárritu, and more. As you may be able to tell from such a list, Khondji is chameleonic, tailoring his aesthetic to whichever director he’s working with. Unlike other cinematographers, it can be difficult to discern when you’re watching a Khondji film. With that said, Khondji is not just a journeyman director of photography — he brings several cinematic qualities with him from film to film. In…
